Hotwire.com Booked hotel rm. thru Hotwire. Hotel said I didn't have reserv. so I left- Hotwire still charged me! Internet

Hotel was booked through Hotwire via cell phone (on the road). Upon arrival at hotel, clerk informed me I had NO reservation. I left hotel and tried reservation again via cell phone. Was assigned same hotel, went back in, and this time there was no hotel clerk to even check for a reservation (was told by other uniformed employees that I should wait, as desk clerk was upstairs, helping a customer with clogged toilet). After waiting several min. & still no clerk appeared, I left and called Hotwire to resolve the failed booking. Was told I had made 2 reservations for same hotel, within min. of one another, but had no recourse, because every transaction made on Hotwire is a final sale. WHAT?! I was first told I HAD no reservation, then no clerk was there the 2nd time, but I, as a "valued Hotwire Express customer", have no recourse?! I fired off a series of emails, and after my credit card company credited both reservations, the following billing perior Hotwire then charged me again for both reservations. When I called AGAIN to resolve this matter and asked a supervisor what the value is in being a Hotwire Express member is, she told me, "the benefit of talking to an American agent". I kid you not! The way Hotwire runs their business is a total scam, and I write this report to warn as many as possible to steer clear of this scammer operation!